SELF-DENIAL AND SACRIFICE
By Roswell F. Cottrell
A most important crisis in our work in the cause of God is upon us. God has led us step by step in our work, until the light on duty is made very clear from the word and Spirit of God. Plans have been laid and organizations have been effected, so that all that will can do something in the work. And as relates to giving, the tithing system, the Bible plan of equality, has been reached, and is being adopted by our people. It is to count one-tenth of our income the Lord’s, a portion that we have no right to appropriate to our own use. A pledge to do this faithfully in the sight of God is proper for every one of our people. Many are making this pledge, and besides this, they are giving one-third as much for the T. and M. work to cancel, perhaps, past indebtedness, and they are making other free-will and thank-offerings. There is danger now that some will not fulfill their vows. And there is also danger that some will not willingly give to God his tithe, even some who have thought themselves liberal. They will perhaps evade their duty, and not deal honestly before God, by substituting increase for income. They have a family to support, hired help to pay, and debts besides. So they will argue to themselves that all that God requires of them is one-tenth of their clear profits, or what they have received above their expenditures. If all should act upon this plan, many would be exempt from giving anything, who now contribute considerable sums, and who have been, in fact, the reliable burden-bearers in the cause. Take, for example, a minister who has no source of income but the two or three hundred dollars which he receives from his Conference. If he receives $200, one-tenth is $20, and the added one-third $6.67, making $26.67. Then two or three free-will offerings for different departments of the cause will leave him only about $150 with which to clothe and support himself, and help those who may be dependent upon him. It will be seen that if he makes the ends meet, it will be by strict economy, and perhaps some self-denial beyond that. A tenth of his “increase,” and that of many other laboring persons who help considerably in the support of the cause, would be a very small sum indeed; and it might truly be marked with the sign minus. The rule for tithing, as expressed by Jacob, is, “Of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth to thee.” In paying tithes we do not give of our own to the Lord; for “the tithe is the Lord’s;” therefore to withhold it and to appropriate it to our use is to rob God. After paying to the Lord his tenth, we have nine-tenths with which to meet our obligations and pay our expenses; and this, with economy, denying ourselves of useless and injurious luxuries, so called, will always, by the blessing of the Lord, carry us through. We can talk of self-denial, and never taste it; and of sacrifice, while our worldly wealth is constantly increasing. On the contrary, a sacrifice consumes away. The Lord’s blessing is promised to those who bring in all the tithes and offerings. Those who give to his cause a tenth of what they receive from his providence, and then use enough economy and self-denial to make the nine-tenths support themselves and meet all their obligations, making liberal free-will offerings to the various branches of the one universal cause, will be blessed of the Lord. Those who have faith, implicit faith, can trust in the Lord and believe his promise. “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Let us have faith sufficient to trust in the promises of God.